1999-07-17 - Why Do I Live?

While reading a book this week called Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan, we came across a quote from an atheist. The quote reads, "If I firmly believed, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, then religion would mean to me everything. I would cast away earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I should labor in it's cause alone. I would take thought for the morrow in eternity alone. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequences would never stay my hand, or seal my lips. Earth it's joys, it's griefs, would occupy no moment of my thought. I would strive to look upon eternity alone, and on the immortal souls around me, soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable. I would go forth to the world and preach it in season and out of season, and my text would be:

"What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36

Other than the Bible, I do not think any other book we have read has, through the Holy Spirit, caused us to examine our life, our relationship with God and our core beliefs more than, Revolution in World Missions has. Someone earlier this week emailed the Webservants an honest question, "I don't understand why God would cast the souls of Jews, Muslims and the ignorant (third world without knowledge of Jesus) into hell."

We could sit and debate and quote scripture over this question for the next twenty years and not all necessarily agree on the answer. Therefore we will not attempt to answer the question, but instead ask, what we believe to be a bigger question:

"How can we, as Christians, who live in a country where we spend millions of dollars every year building new churches, attending conferences, buying books, magazines, CD's, Christian t-shirts, new translations of the Bible, cars, new computers and clothes and so on...sleep, knowing that any living person may die not knowing Jesus Christ as their Savior?"

K.P. Yohannan asks, "Why do you think God has allowed you to be born in North America or Western Europe rather than among the poor masses of Africa and Asia and to be blessed with such material and spiritual abundance? In light of the super abundance you enjoy here what do you think is your minimal responsibility to the untold millions of lost and suffering in the Third World?"

Jesus answered that best when he said:

"I was hungry and you gave me meat: I was thirsty and you gave me drink: I was a stranger and you took me in: naked and you clothed me...verily I say unto you, in as much as you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me." Matthew 25:35-40.

What is the greatest need for people? Is it that they have their bellies filled? Is it that we give them a cup full of rice? No … their greatest need is to know and be saved by the Living God! Give them the gospel of Jesus Christ and all their needs will be met!

"All of us are called for a purpose. Some years ago when I was in Northern India, a little boy about 8 years old watched me as I prepared for morning meditations. I began to talk to him about Jesus and asked him several questions.

"What are you doing?", I asked the lad.
"I go to school", was the reply.
"Why do you go to school?"
"To study", he said.
"Why do you study?"
"To get smart."
"Why do you want to get smart?"
"So I can get a good job."
"Why do you want to make lots of money?"
"So I can buy food."
"Why do you want to buy food?"
"So I can eat."
"Why do you want to eat?"
"To live."
"Why do you live?"

At that point the little boy thought for a minute then scratched his head, looked me in the face and said," Sir, why do I live?" He paused a moment in mid-thought, then gave his own sad answer, "To die!" The question is the same for all of us: "Why do we live?" K.P.Yohannan

Lord, search my heart, show me who You are, who You want me to be and Lord let the one purpose in my existence on this earth, be to live for You.

Sandy & Rick

The book we mentioned above is free for the asking. If you would like to receive a copy please email us for more information.